Prabowo affirms state presence in facing disasters and forest fires
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that the government is present through integrated measures in dealing with earthquake disasters and extreme climate conditions, including forest and land fires (karhutla).
“We are grateful. I have travelled to several places and checked myself. Thank God, all elements—local governments, ministries and agencies, the TNI, Polri, BNPB, the environment ministry, forestry ministries—are all working effectively,” the President said, as quoted in Jakarta on Tuesday.
In his remarks at the launch of the 100 gigawatt peak (GWp) Solar Power Plant Programme at the Gilimanuk Solar Power Plant site in Jembrana Regency, Bali, the President said that forest and land fire management in several regions is being carried out in an integrated manner involving cross-sectoral participation and supported by the deployment of substantial resources.
“Because we have deployed very large forces. We have shown that our country is strong. We are now deploying dozens of helicopters, more than a dozen aircraft, various techniques, hundreds of water drills, hundreds of water pumps, and thousands of personnel,” he said.
According to the President, the deployment of these forces is intended to accelerate forest and land fire management while ensuring that fire conditions in several regions can be brought under control soon.
President Prabowo is optimistic that forest and land fire management in various regions can be completed in the near future after the government deployed various resources to tackle the fires.
“Now I think it has begun to be resolved and mitigated. In some places, I hope that within one or two weeks everything can be finished,” he said.
Furthermore, President Prabowo expressed appreciation to all ranks involved in handling disasters and extreme climate conditions in various regions of Indonesia.
He said that government efforts are also directed at handling various other disasters occurring across the country, including the disaster in Aceh and the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
“Although we face trials, although we face obstacles and barriers, we are strong, we are capable, and we continue to prove it. We resolved the Aceh disaster in a time frame that many parties did not think possible. In NTT, our reaction was very fast and very massive. Everywhere, our country is present,” he said.
The President emphasised that these various measures are part of the government’s efforts to ensure the state is present in facing disasters while protecting the public amid extreme climate conditions.